FLUORIDE TREATMENT
Fluoride Treatment
One of the preventative services we offer our patients at District Smiles is fluoride treatment. Fluoride is a mineral that hardens the enamel of teeth, thereby helping prevent cavities.
We often recommend fluoride treatment for our patients who might be susceptible to a higher number of cavities. This means we may suggest that parents have fluoride applied to their children’s teeth. The reason is young people are frequently exposed to sweets and it can be harder to get children to brush as regularly or as long as they should.
Another group that can benefit from fluoride treatment is any adult who may be at increased risk for cavities. This includes our patients who might be on prescription medications that dry out saliva, who are suffering from gum recession exposing the roots of their teeth or who have received crowns or dental bridges. Hardening tooth enamel can help all these patients reduce the occurrence of cavities.
In-Office Fluoride Treatment
In our office, we apply a liquid or gel solution of fluoride with a swab or place a fluoride formula in a tray to be held in the mouth. We ask a patient receiving this treatment not to eat or drink for at least 30 minutes after treatment to allow the fluoride to be fully absorbed by the tissues of the teeth.
At-Home Fluoride
There are many toothpastes containing fluoride on the market, but the at-home products we may recommend for you are stronger preparations that can be more effective in helping you avoid cavities. We may recommend fluoride rinses or supplements if we feel these are needed. You can count on the team at District Smiles to protect the health and strength of your teeth with his expert professional care and recommendations.
Are you due to catch up on your preventative dentistry? Please call us to schedule an appointment.
We are convenient to many Northwest Washington, D.C. neighborhoods, including Friendship Heights, Wakefield, North Cleveland Park, McLean Gardens, Forest Hill, Van Ness and Spring Valley. From the Tenleytown-AU Metro station, we are just a few steps away. We look forward to assisting you with your dental and oral health